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Xylitol is a naturally occurring polyol sweetener that has been used in chewing gum and lozenges as a modality to prevent dental caries. In a double-blind trial, researchers examined the efficacy of xylitol oral syrup for the prevention of dental caries in 100 children (age range, 9–15 months) in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The children were randomized to receive xylitol topical oral syrup (8 g/day) administered by parents in either two or three divided doses or a control syrup (sorbitol) for 12 months.
Among the 94 children with at least one follow-up exam (mean follow-up, 10.5 months), those who received xylitol syrup were significantly less likely to have tooth decay than children who received the control syrup (24% and 41% in t…